first timer and timid

[Mrs Green]

I get motion sickness on most rides and long car trips as a passenger (even really windy roads if I'm the driver!). Our room was mid-ship and one of the lower decks. I really felt fine all over the ship, though. I wore sea bands most days. I think it also made a difference that it was an Alaska cruise and so we weren't on open sea too much. I also noticed it made a difference how I sat when I could see outside - if I was facing the direction we were going I was fine, but if I was facing the opposite direction it really messed me up.

I didn't bring meds, but it might be a good idea just in case. Our first day at sea there were several people feeling queasy and there were no meds available until the store or dr opened for the day

Thank you so much, super helpful!

 

[dotfurio]

Guest Services has meds, or did when we asked, and there is a basket on the outside of the doctor's door that will have meds as well as a sheet telling how to deal with motion sickness. We've personally seen the basket and it was getting a lot of traffic.

That's good to know. We're still cruise newbies The couple other families we talked to with queasy kids were telling us there was nothing available until 9 am - I know they checked with the dr's office so it must have been all gone. They also checked the shops which were closed. They must not have checked guest services, unless they ran out , too.

 

[ptcbass]

I get motion sickness and was nervous about going out that far too. I started taking Bonine the night before and then 1 every night of the cruise and was fine. I am like another poster in that I only was bothered when I went to the shows (forward). We had a room aft and 9th deck and loved the location. The first night I could feel it in the MDR (low, aft) and it worried me that I would get sick but never did. Also once your on the ship you don't even think about being out too far. It was so nice and beautiful and I loved every minute of it.

Whatever you decide to take (Bonine, etc...) try it before your cruise. For some reason the meds make some people feel sick. This is rare but you don't want to find this out while on your vacation.

If you feel sick order a sliced green apple. They are supposed to help. I also took ginger cookies and ginger ale with me just in case.

Enjoy your cruise

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

My wife and I swear by the seasickness patch. It has been a Godsend for us, and I would not be able to cruise without it. Be careful to not touch the patch when putting it on or accidentally while wearing it (we use nitrile gloves to put them on) because if you get the medicine on your fingers and then touch your face your near vision can be very blurry for a few days, which is disconcerting. You may also get significant dry mouth, but IMO it's worth it to feel otherwise very good throughout the cruise.

I also think people who say that you don't or won't feel much or any motion on the ship do a real disservice to first-time cruisers. I'll take their word for it that they don't notice the motion, but I can say with certainty that my wife and I (along with our children, who do not get seasick) feel every roll, sway and dip, along with the general feeling of forward motion while at sea. With the patch we do not feel sick at all, but we still feel the motion and it takes some getting used to. We were told before our first cruise that we wouldn't even feel the ship move and so were not prepared for the fact that we never felt like we weren't moving. I'm offering this not to scare you, but to prepare you for the fact that everybody's experience on a ship is different and for my family and myself, cruising is like a non-stop ride that we greatly enjoy only because we've taken medical steps to prevent seasickness.

 

[phillmolly]

You have gotten some really good advice, I'll just add my experience.

Just got off our second cruise a week ago. I am very prone to motion sickness, when I was a kid I threw up watching the pirate ship ride, watching, not riding! I was super nervous before cruising and I was sure I was going to spend the whole time feeling sick. Based on stuff I learned here and other sites, I got some Bonine and sea bands. I took a bonine the night before the cruise and put the sea bands on as soon as we got on the boat. It worked great for me, I could feel the boat moving but I never felt sick. I did the same thing for our second cruise and again it worked great. Our second cruise was out of Port Canaveral and yes, the first night was super rocky. Even though I could feel every movement I didn't feel sick.

Different things work for different people but I am sure you will find the right combo that works for you.

Oh, and both times we had an ocean view cabin on deck 2 aft.

 

[cruisingmom1977]

I know lots of people swear by the patch and it does work great but it does have some unpleasant side effects for some...blurred vision...constant dry mouth..."spaceyness"...etc. I was actually given this in the hospital twice when I couldn't stop throwing up after surgery (I have a severe reaction to anesthesia) so I know it works but if you can use something else, that might be better for you. I also have severe motion sickness and know that there is nothing worse than being sick on a boat and not being able to do anything about it. I would recommend Bonine and I would start two days before you board. Also, as others have posted...the worst time in the first night out and the night back. If you are cruising in the Caribbean, it is mostly smooth sailing...

 

[Buttered Bun in the Oven]

Ginger candy and those little pressure-point bracelets help. Also take any medication a few hours in advance of the cruise...it takes a bit to kick in...read the directions.

 

[FLpixie]

My wife and I swear by the seasickness patch. It has been a Godsend for us, and I would not be able to cruise without it. Be careful to not touch the patch when putting it on or accidentally while wearing it (we use nitrile gloves to put them on) because if you get the medicine on your fingers and then touch your face your near vision can be very blurry for a few days, which is disconcerting. You may also get significant dry mouth, but IMO it's worth it to feel otherwise very good throughout the cruise.

Correct - you are not to touch the patch. I personally don't go as far as gloves - and I do have incidental contact with it periodically as I am pulling my hair up but I have never had side effects from it. Of course, I tend to drink a lot of water anyway so maybe that's why?

I also think people who say that you don't or won't feel much or any motion on the ship do a real disservice to first-time cruisers. I'll take their word for it that they don't notice the motion, but I can say with certainty that my wife and I (along with our children, who do not get seasick) feel every roll, sway and dip, along with the general feeling of forward motion while at sea. With the patch we do not feel sick at all, but we still feel the motion and it takes some getting used to. We were told before our first cruise that we wouldn't even feel the ship move and so were not prepared for the fact that we never felt like we weren't moving. I'm offering this not to scare you, but to prepare you for the fact that everybody's experience on a ship is different and for my family and myself, cruising is like a non-stop ride that we greatly enjoy only because we've taken medical steps to prevent seasickness.

Yes! This! A thousand times - this! If you are prone to motion sickness you WILL feel the motion. I wish the people who says you won't feel it could experience life as a motion sickness, highly motion sensitive individual for a day. I literally was motion sick in one of the revolving restaurants (you know - the ones that take an entire HOUR to do ONE revolution?). I feel every movement of the ship. However, with the patch, the motion sickness does not hit. Oh but believe me I feel every pitch and yaw.

I know lots of people swear by the patch and it does work great but it does have some unpleasant side effects for some...blurred vision...constant dry mouth..."spaceyness"...etc. I was actually given this in the hospital twice when I couldn't stop throwing up after surgery (I have a severe reaction to anesthesia) so I know it works but if you can use something else, that might be better for you. I also have severe motion sickness and know that there is nothing worse than being sick on a boat and not being able to do anything about it. I would recommend Bonine and I would start two days before you board. Also, as others have posted...the worst time in the first night out and the night back. If you are cruising in the Caribbean, it is mostly smooth sailing...

Like I said above, I've never had side effects on the patches - but that will vary by individual. Also remember you will be in a different environment - eating differently, sleeping differently, climate is different (I swear the air was terribly dry on our cruise a couple weeks ago - dry air in the middle of the ocean?!?) so that could also be affecting you as well.

 

[artnerds]

Putting my doctor hat on for a moment...

Motion sickness is a complex beast. Some people don't seem to sense motion at all unless it's really extreme. Others sense the motion but are not bothered by it (me, thank goodness). And still others get motion sickness. Of the ones who get motion sickness, some get it only when the motion is bad and others get it even with minor motion.

Just as people are different in their proclivity to sense motion and to develop motion sickness, so too people with motion sickness get relief in different ways. Some feel fine with a little fresh air and a horizon to look at. Some do okay with just ginger candies or ginger ale. Many do great with over the counter medication like Bonine. And some need prescription medication.

Of course, for first-time cruisers, it's hard to know which will work, but there is good reason to be cautious and to go with the least medically-invasive treatment possible. Medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, can have complications and side-effects. Serious side effects are rare, but that is little comfort to the rare person who gets them.

 

[ptcbass]

Putting my doctor hat on for a moment...

Motion sickness is a complex beast. Some people don't seem to sense motion at all unless it's really extreme. Others sense the motion but are not bothered by it (me, thank goodness). And still others get motion sickness. Of the ones who get motion sickness, some get it only when the motion is bad and others get it even with minor motion.

Just as people are different in their proclivity to sense motion and to develop motion sickness, so too people with motion sickness get relief in different ways. Some feel fine with a little fresh air and a horizon to look at. Some do okay with just ginger candies or ginger ale. Many do great with over the counter medication like Bonine. And some need prescription medication.

Of course, for first-time cruisers, it's hard to know which will work, but there is good reason to be cautious and to go with the least medically-invasive treatment possible. Medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, can have complications and side-effects. Serious side effects are rare, but that is little comfort to the rare person who gets them.

Very well said! I know doctors that had long term vision side effect from the patches and won't recommend them to anyone but then some use them every time they travel with no problems. I say do the minimum too - well the best you can not knowing what works.

 

[artnerds]

I should clarify that when I said people should "go with the least medically-invasive treatment possible," I meant "the least medically-invasive treatment that gives them relief." If ginger candies work, don't do Bonine. If Bonine works, don't do the prescription patch, etc.

 

[Mrs Green]

If I find that I need prescription level meds would I be able to get that on the ship, from the ship doc?

 

[just2girls1]

Don't know about them having it on the ship. I can tell you as a person that gets horribly sea sick, you want to start whatever you are going to use before you get sick. Once you get sea sick it is difficult at best to feel 100%.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If I find that I need prescription level meds would I be able to get that on the ship, from the ship doc?

I don't believe they have them on the ship. I know that some people with extreme motion-sickness have received a shot that apparently relieved the symptoms.

I would say you would need to talk to your doctor about prescribing the patch before you sail, if you feel you may need it.

I'll just throw in my $.02 here - DH is extremely prone to motion sickness (in cars, boats, and ships). He got the patch from his doctor before our first cruise, and he could tell (even using the patch) that he needed it.

Since then, he's apparently adjusted to cruising (must be all the cruises we've now done). By our third cruise, when he applied the patch, he started getting the extreme side effects that can happen - blurred vision, dizziness, disorientation, extreme dry-mouth. Really scary. So he took it off. Now, that cruise was extremely smooth (no high winds or currents), so maybe the patch was overkill, but he used it because he thought he had to have it.

He still brings it along, in case there are high seas causing a lot of motion, but he now uses the seabands, and occasionally a Bonine at bedtime for most of our cruises.

 

[artnerds]

For people with severe symptoms from motion sickness, they will give a shot of promethazine (Phenergan), but they do not usually give out preventative prescription medication.

 

[Sil452]

I went on my first cruise this past November, and wasn't sure how I would react to the motion as I get car sick on occasion. My wife and I took a regular Dramamine each night before bed and we were fine and not tired during the day. Also, there is a good ginger martini in Skyline if all else fails.

 

[Mrs Green]

I don't believe they have them on the ship. I know that some people with extreme motion-sickness have received a shot that apparently relieved the symptoms.

I would say you would need to talk to your doctor about prescribing the patch before you sail, if you feel you may need it.

I'll just throw in my $.02 here - DH is extremely prone to motion sickness (in cars, boats, and ships). He got the patch from his doctor before our first cruise, and he could tell (even using the patch) that he needed it.

Since then, he's apparently adjusted to cruising (must be all the cruises we've now done). By our third cruise, when he applied the patch, he started getting the extreme side effects that can happen - blurred vision, dizziness, disorientation, extreme dry-mouth. Really scary. So he took it off. Now, that cruise was extremely smooth (no high winds or currents), so maybe the patch was overkill, but he used it because he thought he had to have it.

He still brings it along, in case there are high seas causing a lot of motion, but he now uses the seabands, and occasionally a Bonine at bedtime for most of our cruises.

For people with severe symptoms from motion sickness, they will give a shot of promethazine (Phenergan), but they do not usually give out preventative prescription medication.

Thank you both. This is good info to have!

 

[FLpixie]

On our most recent cruise, I took the accupressure bands, Dramamine, and got the patches from my Dr. The patches have a LONG shelf life so even if I didn't need them on this past cruise, I may need them on a future one. Turns out the accupressure bands do nothing for me but cause aggravation to my arms. It was rapidly ramping up (the motion sickness) and I skipped over the Dramamine and went right to the patch. I know I needed it and I've never had side effects from it. While the ship wasn't pitching wildly to and fro, it was enough at times that I had a hard time walking without reaching out a hand to steady myself at times. Dramamine alone wasn't going to cut if for me at that point in time (although I can use it with success in amusement parks).

The point is to say I took along multiple methods so I could start off easy and work my way up. The other other major one I didn't have with me was ginger - which does help me if I am feeling badly and I am then removed from the situation (again - think amusement parks). It pays to be prepared and willing to try to find what works for you.

 

[preciouspups]

Thank you for all this information! When I cruised the first time a few years ago I got nervous about being sea sick and took dramamine and was fine. My friend shared a room and took it as well and had reactions... the first night I woke up to her falling out of bed. The second night I woke up to her having a loud argument in her sleep. I spent years as a flight attendant without motion sickness and somewhere around age 40 it hit me. It mostly happens when my husband is driving because he slams on his breaks a lot. I can read a book in the car but I can't read my iphone. I plan to stock up on dramamine, bonine, ginger candy, ginger ale and anything else I can find before our November cruise.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I suggest you call your family Doctor and ask him which of the many motion sickness meds on the market would be best for you. As previously posted mid deck (mid fore to aft) and lower deck is the best place to minimize the vessel motion.

AKK